Improvement in pedal-actions for piano-fortes



Patented July 11, 1876.

r m f// W. H. M11-.LER & F. FULLER.

PEDAL ACTION FOR PIANOFORTES.

ii: B. w s

NFETERS. PHOTO LTI! RAPHER. WASNONQH'ON, Dv C.

`ondary panel, movable with the pedal keysuitable springs 0, and, projecting through PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H. MILLER AND FRANCIS FULLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO HENRY F. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PEDAL-ACTIONS FCR PIANO-FORTES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 79,81 l., dated July 11,1876 i application led June 3, 18.76.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WALTER H. MILLER and FRANCIS FULLER, both of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ot'Massach-usetts, have invented an Improvement in Pedal-Action for Pianos, ot' which the following is a Vspecilication This invention relates to a pedal-action attachment for pianos; and it is shown as ap; plied'to an upright piano.

The invention consists in a pivoted pedal key-board, adapted to serve as the front of the piano when closed, and to present the pedal-keys for action when open; also, in a pivpted pedal key-board, in combination with pedal keys and levers connected and movable therewith 5 also, in the combination, with the pivoted pedal key-board, of a secboard and adapted to cover the interior mech'- anism or action when the pedal key-board is turned down.

Figurel'shows the pedal key-board and part of an upright-case piano in section, the pedal key-board being turned down. Fig. 2 represents the exterior ot' an upright piano in perspective, the pedal key-board being down 5 and Fig. 3 represents the parts shown in Fig. l, with the pedal key-board turned up.

In the drawing the piano action is not shown, and it is understood that this action may be of any usual kind, and adapted to be connected with, and to be operated by, keys in any usual way. The ordinary pianokeys a are shown as pivoted at b, and their rearmost ends rest above the key-rods or litters c, provided, in this instance, with extensible end pieces d e, the former adapted to extend through openingsj'in the board or bed h, and the latter, e, to extend through a guide-board, g, and rest on pedal-levers i, pivoted at j to the pedal key-board 7c, pivoted at or near its end 2 to the frame-work of the piano. The pedal-levers m, pivoted at n, are held upby guides 5, their ends 3 enter slots et in the ends of the pedal-levers t'. The wire-s or strings, sounding-boards, Ste., for the upright piano are placed between the key-rods c and the back-board p.

In the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2 the pedal key-board Z is turned down, its forward end resting` on adjustable knobs q, that serve as feet to level the pedal key-board, and as knobs by which to handle it. In this position the player, by action of the feet 011 the pedalkeys m, will depress them and raise the end 6 of pedal-levers i, together with the key-rods c, and they will lift the back ends ot the keys c, operating them in the same way that such keys would be operated if struck by the iingers when playing by hand on keys a.; and these keys c,being suitably connected With any ordinary hammers, will strike the strings or Wires.

sent the desired ett'ect o r appearance when the pedal key-hoard is elevated, as in Fig. 2. A secondary panel or front, r, is pivoted at s, by suitable ears, to move with the pedal. keyboard, and at top it is provided with a guide or button, t, to meet a shoulder or portion, a, of the frame =and stop the upper end of the secondary panel, as indicated in Fig. 1, the secondary panel in such figure forming the front ot' the piano when the' pedal key-board is down. When the pedal key-board is elevated, as shown in Fig. 3, it forms the front of the upright piano, and it is held in position by a suitable catch, o. The secondary panel,

'when the pedal action is elevated, moves to the position shown in Fig. 3, and its upper end is thrown against a stop or pin, w. As the pedal-keys and pedal-levers are both carried by the pedal key-board, they are always in proper position with relation to each other when the parts are placed as in Fig. l, and

the pedal-action is entirely out ofthe way and concealed when the pedal key-board is closed, as in Fig. 3. This construction of parts enables the production of a neat and compact pedal-action, and one entirely out of the way when it is desired to use the piano operating from the keys a, Ialone, and, when closed up, the piano will resemble an ordinary piano.

We do not limit ourselves to the exact construction ot' devices herein shown, for the special levers and keys may be modified in shape without departing from our invention, and may be applied to upright or grand pianos.

The lower end 2 of the pedal keyboard and its front face 8 are tinished to pre- The guide-board g serves as a stop for the key-rods when the pedal key-board is closed, the shoulders 10 on the rods resting on the guide-board. The ease x of the piano may be ot any proper size and configuration.

We claim- 1. The combination, with the frame of an upright piano, of a pivoted pedal key-board, adapted, when closed, to forni the piano-front, and when opened, to serve as the support for, and to present the pedal-keys, substantially as described.

2. The pedal key board, in combination with the pedalkeys and pedal-levers, all pivoted on, and movable with, the pedal keyboard, substantially as described.

3. The pivoted pedal key-board and pedalkeys and pedal-levers, in combination with the secondary panel movable with the pedal key-board, substantially as described.

4. The pivoted pedal key-board, pedal-keys land pedal-levers, in combination with the litters or key-rods 0 and keys a, substantially as described.

5. The pivoted pedal key-board and pedalkeys and pedal-levers, in combination with the shouldered key-rods and guide-board, all substantially as described.

6. The secondary panel, in combination With the pedal key-board, and with devices to control the position of the panel, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the pivoted pedal key-board,of' the adjustible knobs or feet, to place the pedal-levers and pedal key-board in proper position with relation to the key-rods or litters, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our naines to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WALTER H. MILLER. FRANCIS FULLER.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, S. B. KIDDER. 

